Machine for the automatic coloring of films



July 6 1926.

1,591,436 G. A. sALlNs MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC GOLORING OF FILMS Filed July l5 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 UDUUUUUDUJ nnoonuu 0n Un o n n n n0 u 0n noupl'unnnnn ad. I n u n nu uno un flngouonnn n u? UUDUUUUU Georges Augustin Salins INVENTOR by his Attornay G. A. sALlNs MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC COLORING OF FILMS July 6 1926.

Filed July l5 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ins R Georges Augs 17in Sal INVENTO his Attorney G. A. SALINS MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC COLORING OF FILMS VJuly 6 1926.

Filed July l5 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 tin Salina INVENTOR 25 24 Georges Augus his Attorney G. A. SALINS MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC COLORING OF FILMS July 6, 1926. 1,591,436

. 'Filed July 15, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 4 Georges Augustin Saline INVENTOR by his Attorney Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES r,PATENT y 1,591,436 OFFICE.

GEORGES AUGUSTIN SALINS, OF VINCENNES, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR `T PATHE CINMA, ANCIENS ETABLISSEMENTS PATH FRERES, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC ICOIQCXRIIJTG OF. FILMS.

Application :nea my 15,

Inf the known machines for coloring cinematographic films wherein the color is applied by means of rollers, it is necessary when changing from one color to another to stop the motion of the ilmfor to insert a connecting band between the 1two parts which are to have different `colors.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous coloring of the different parts of a lln according to the color which is to be' given to each part without reducing the speed of travel of the film this being performed b means of suitable coloring rollers whereo each is arranged for applying one color and the whole set of rollers is placed in series, the said rollers being automatically moved towards or from the film at thel proper time by the action of the film itself or by like means.

.In the accompanying drawings showin by way of example an embodiment of the invention I Fig. l is an elevationalv view of a portion of the apparatus, the contact wheels being shown in section and the coloring drums in elevation.; t y

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view. I

Fig. 3 is a side view of a contact wheel, with certain parts removed inthe lower part of the figure. l

V Fig. 4 is a plan view `of two consecutive coloring elements with their clutching mechanism, partly in'section.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the clutch# ing, mechanism at the tiine of cessation of the control. v n

Fig. 6 isa-view showing the 'resumption of the control.

- Fig. 7 is an Velevational view of the colori ing mechanism in the operative position,

and l l Fig. 8 is a sition. Fig. 8, and

like view in the inoperative po- 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4

Fig. 10 a section on the line 10-10 of thel same figure.

Fig. 11 is a side 'view corresponding to Fig. 7

5 Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic' view showing the perforations in the film for the auto-4 matic controlof the`coloring means. Fig. 13 is a like view showing the arrange- -ment of the pomted members and the connec- 5 tions on the contact wheels.

rotated in a continuous manner by suitable g loose on the shaft, and are mounted in bear-- ing roller is mounted on the end of -a lever the direction of the 1924, Serial No. 726,112, and in France` July 21, 1923.

' Fig.` 14 is a diagram of the circuit for a series of elements of a contactwheel.

In the present example, the machine comprises an upper horizontal sha-ft 1 which is means and to which are keyed the wheelsal, a2, a3 carrying the film to .be colored f and provided with the entraining teeth 3. The number of the said wheels corresponds to the number of colors to be employed for coloring the lilm,l for example eight colors. Below the said wheels are disposed the guiding wheels b1, b2, b3, or coloring drums, which4 have a smooth periphery and are in the inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2. The film arriving for instance upon the wheel a* passes below the wheel b4, mounts upon the wheel as, descends again below the wheel b3, and so on. The lower wheels b1, b2 etc. are

ings. The tension of the film can be ensured by any suitable means.

Belowl each coloring wheel or drum b1, b2 etc., is disposed'a coloring device. Each of the said devices, which corresponds to a given color, comprises a coloring roller 13 (Flg. 11) with smooth periphery which is partially lmlmersed in a small trough 14, 1g. 7, containing the color. The said color 15 which is pivoted at axle 16 and has at the which is urged against the4 cam 18 by the spring 19.v The shaft 2O of the coloring roller 13 has mounted thereon a controlling disc `21. ,I

Upon the shaft 16 is pivoted the lever 22 upon whose other end are mounted a disc 23, Fig. 10, and a pulley 24, which are connected together by the small shaft 25. The pulle f 24. is constantly actuated by the doub e pulley 26, through the medium of the belt 27, whilst the pulley 26 is constantly actuated b a shaft, not shown, which is common to al the elements. The lever 22 is urged against a stop-piece 28 by the spring 29.

lV'hen the cam 18'is in the position shown in Fig. 8. the coloring rollery is separated from the film, and it ceases to rotate; the disc 21 is out of contact with the disc 23: in these' conditions, the film is not colored when passing through the said element. .But if the cam makes half a revolution in arrow, the boss 30 which the middle upon' the other end a stud 17 comes into position in the first place will.'

bring the coloring roller 13 very close to the film, and thenthe said roller will move back by a short distance and will he held in this position, Fig. 7, bythe part 31 of the cam. Since the distance between the control discs 21 and 23 is less than the distance between the coloring roller and the film, Fig. 8, the latter roller will rotate before attainingfthe tilm, and the coloring will begin at the exact moment determined by the said boss.

The coloring matter is placed upon the film by capillarity, the coloring roller being separated from the film byone of two millimetres according to the consistency of the color; the boss 30 serves to start the capillary action. When the cam 8 again makes half a revolution, the coloring action ceases, and the apparatus is now in the position shown in Fig. 8.

The releasing device allowing the cam to make halt` a revolution comprises (Fig. 4) a .shaft 41 which is in continuous rotation in the bearing 42 and carries at the ends a pulley 43 and a ratchet wheel 44; a cam 45 is secured to the said bearing. In lanother bear-y ing 46 is rotatable :1r/shaft 47 having upon one end, and adjacent the ratchet 44, a disc 48 to which is pivoted at 49 a pawl 49 which the spring 50ctends to separate from the ratchet teeth; a stud 51 secured to the said ratchet is caused to bear upon the periphery of the cam 45 under the pressure of the spring 50. The cam 45 has formed therein the cut-out portion 45', and when the stud 51 of the ratchet drops into the said cut-out ortion. the pawl will pivot about and will lie released from the said ratchet, so that the disc 48 will come to a stop after having made exactly one revolution. Fig. 5 shows the said pawl in the raised position. At the other end of the shaft 47 is mounted a bevel gear 52 engaging a like gear 54a mounted on the shaft 54b of a pinion 54, Figs. 7 and 8. The latter pinion engages a pinion 55 which has twice the diameter of the former and is secured to the cam 18; so that each revolution of the disc 48 will correspond to half a revolution of the cam 18. The said pawl is lowered into engagement with the ratchet by a lever 56 which is attracted by the electro-magnet 57 at the proper time.

In the apparatus herein represented, the film to be colored is utilized to operate the electro-magnets 57 and hencethe corresponding coloring rollers 13. For this purpose. in the present example, the Film is provided with perforations at suitable points upon its length; these may be disposed as shown in 'Fig'. 12, in the case of an apparatus for eight colors.

It is observed in this ligure that the perorations m a o t are situated upon a common longitudinal line m. The perforations m g, n r, 0 -s, p t are situated respec- 'tively upon the lines A, B, C, D. The perforations m, m are situated upon a common line F G separating two images. The same prevails for n n', 0 o', p p. The perforations Q g are respectively below and above a givenlmage, and the same is true for the perforations r 7", s s', t t. Each pair of perforations corresponds to a given color.

A'1`hef`1lm to be colored acts by the said perforations upon the contact elements disposed in the entraining wheels a1, a2 etc. so as to control the solenoids 57 and hence the coloring rollers. 1

In Athe present example, the wheels al, a2 etc. which are of ebonite or other insulating substance have for instance a circumferential length corresponding to twenty images, and are provided `with twenty radial slots 60, Fig. 3. lIn each slot are disposed two levers 68, 68 made of ebonite or like insulation, each lever having at the end a pointed member 69, 69 respectively, these being adapted to enter the respective perforations m m',

'n n of the film. The circumferential disstance between two adjacent. pointed memhers corresponds to the height of an image. Each of the levers 68 disposed in the left hand side of each wheel (Fig. 1) is riveted to a metallic lever 70 ivoting on an axle 71 and provided wit a metallic contact arm 72 upwardly urged by the spring 73 in order to make contact with a spring strip 77 mount-` ed in a lateral recess in thesaid wheel. The twenty springs 73 situated on the same side of the wheel are secured to a sleeve 74V adapted to come into contact with a stationary cam 75 which is insulated from the shaft 1 and carries a terminal 7 6 connected to one pole of the corresponding electro-magnet 57.` As above stated, an electro-magnet is provided for each of the wheels al, a2, a3 etc.

In ,normal operation, the levers 70 tend to swing to the right, Fig. 1, when urged by the springs 73, blut they come into contact with the stationary cam 75, which has a suitable cutout portion, in such manner that when a lever 70 comes opposite the said cut-out portion, its pointed member 69 will come into contact with the, lin (wheels a2, a3, a, Fig. 1) and can enter one of the4 perforations m, n, 0, t when the latter comes into the proper position (wheel a1, Fig. 1). The lever 70 will now swing about under the action of the spring 73, and the arm 72 comes into contact with the spring 77. The pointed member 69 is withdrawn from the perforation of the film before this! latter leaves the wheel, due to the action of.' the cam 75 which impels the lever 70 to the left, Fig. 1, after the contact has been made between the arm 72 and the spring 77, as above stated.

In' the right-hand portion of each wheel, Fig. 1, are disposed the elements 70', 71', 7 2', 73', etc., corresponding to the respective elements 70,- 71, 72,73, etc., above described. In the presentexample, the cut-out portion of each cam 75 is situated oppositel a cutout portion of the cam 75', in the first four wheels (a1 to a), and it is separated from the cut-ou portion of the cam 7 5 by an angle corresponding (on the circumference) to the height of an image, in the other four Wheels (ai5 to as). l

Fig. 14 shows the electric circuit for each wheel al, a2, a3, etc., the said circuit comprising a terminal 76', a battery 80, the corresponding electro-magnet 57, and the second terminal 76. The said circuit is closed when the two arms 72, 7 2 come into contact at the same time with the respective vsprings 77, 77', the two springs being'connected by suitable connecting means 81 whose disposition will be further considered.

The levers 68 have in each case a length such that the pointed members 69 of each wheel shall be situated upon a circumference corresponding to the line X, Figs. 12 and 13. We have represented in a diagrammatic manner, various superposed views showing .partial developments of the first, fifth and eighth wheel, said wheels being designated by'a1, a, as; in this figure, 69 and 69' indicate the position of the pointed members relative to each slot 60; 77, 77 representing the two springs above mentioned, and 81 their connection. It is observed in this figure thatthe springs 77, 77, which are' ,connected together in each wheel, correspond to the pointed members 69, 69 which have deter ined positions, these positions correspond'ng respectively to the position i. of two perforations of the film. For example, the pointed members 69, 69 of the fifth whee1-(a5), corresponding to the contact springs 77, 77" connected together by the connecting means 81, are situated upon the lines and X and cooperate with the 'perforations g g ofthe film. The pointed ,members4 of the eighth wheel (as) cooperate withthe perforations t t', etc.

The operation is as follows:

Let it be supposed that a certain length of the film is to be colored in blue, and that the coloring operation is to be controlled by the Wheel a5; in this event, the film is provided with the ttwo perforations g and Q" at a suitable point upon its length, so that when these perforations are engaged with the respective pointed members 69, 69 of the wheel a5, lthe first image to be colored in blue will come opposite the bluecoloring roller. At this time, the circuit of the electro-magnet corresponding to the said roller will be closed; the lever 56 will be attractedy (Fig. 5); the pawl 49 now engages the ratchet 44 and is drawn forward by the same, together with the disc 48 which will make one revolution under the `action of the above-mentioned control.

The cam 18 will thus make halfa revolution and will i assume the position shown in' Fig. 7. The corresponding coloring roller 13 will thus deposit blue color upon the film until it becomes separated therefrom. To effect this separation, the film comprises at a suitable point upon its length' two perforations which are Ianalogous to g g. 4These two perforations serve to lefi'ect the rotation of the cam 18 by another half-revolution, thus bringing the coloring roller into its inoperative position, in which it will remain until a new series of perforations g g come into action.

A like operation takes place for each of the said coloring rollers.

Obviously, the said invention is not limited to the hereinbefore described form of construction. In particular, the Contact Wheels a1, a2, a3, instead of'being placed side by side, may be disposed in the same plane or may be otherwise situated, and llike condi- Cil tions may prevail for the lower wheels b1, 4.

b21, b3, etc.

The ratchet device controlling the cams 18 may be replaced by alike clutching device.

The automatic motion ofthe said rollers, l

instead of being controlled by the perforations in the film, may be controlled byv notches, metallic contacts, or the like, which need not to be located upon the lines ofseparated with any suitable varnish having as a basis Celluloid, Vacetate or cellulose, gum arabic or the like, and it can be'` appliedto th backing of the film or to the gelatine s1 e. l

In an apparatus employing colored gelatine, the trough 14 is so disposed that the .gelatine shall be maintained in the liquid state, `as in the'known apparatus 4for apply ing' gelatine or emulsion, andat each revolution the film is preferably caused to pass through apsheath in which a sufficiently low temperature is maintained in order that the gelatine applied 4to the film shall be rapidly dried.

Having now described my invention what lI claim as new and desire to secure by Letlters Patent is:

1. In amachlne for colormg films, several mechanisms each comprising a coloring roller corresponding to a determined color, a movable support for-said roller and means Itravelling in synchronism with the film to be colored and adapted to control the movement of said support and to move said roller towards and from the said firm.

2. In a machine for coloring films, several mechanisms cach con'ipn'sing e, coiciing mii er corresponding to determined coloc, c. pivoting lever ceriying sei rollen' e com. for actuating sai evei, anci means travel fling in synchronism with the nini to loe coicreci for ccmtioliingg;v 'che inerniiceni; ms tion' of seid cem w'iierebv seicircoiiei moved towards and from the fiiin io be coiloiedi i 3s In e. machine for coloring filmss sevei'ei mechanisms each comprising a. coioiing i'oiiei' corresponding to e detei'ininc color, pivoting lever carrying sai icoiiers e cani for actuating scid ievec7 driving .ineens e ciuteh for ineiiniigtentiy connecting scifi cem io seid driving ineens, anci ineens *miv-@Ming in synchronisin with the iiiin isc ine coiored for controiling saioi cinc-ch whereby lseni ioiiei is moved tovvmds sufi -ioni iiiie seid fiinn 1-, in e machine ioiu coioifing iiiins e iiim 55o be coioied provide@ with peiiomtions ifoinied cri; deiermined pieces ihm-eci?, sev'eiai mechenisn'is each comprising e cc-ioiing ioiien corresponding cieeimined coioi, a. pivoting icvei ceiiying seid colic?, cani for comming seioi ieven, driving ineens, o.,

ciuich n ineiiniizeniiy connecing said io seid fiiivinn; mesme9 and means con'- 'ccoiieci by he seid peiifoieiions ci' 511m for coni'iciiing; Jdie seid cinicii whereby seid folien is moved ioweids end imm the i'ihn to 'ne coiocccic fi. iin machine foi. cofioning i'iinis, n, iiim 5o be colored provided with peiioi'elions :forni/eci et deizerininei pinces iiieieoi"q several mechanisms eeen comA gf coiocing new corresponding e: detemiined coiol, e pivoting iever carrying; seid c'oiineicy a, com for actuating scifi lieven Wiieieiijv scid ioier is inovcfi ,towards icono miie seioi im, driving means, :in electro-magnetic cintcii Een iniiemnittendyl eonneciing seid cani to sind driving; ineens en eiectrie circuit. foiK ce contingseici ciutch, enoi swiiciies in seni cir--y cuit eonti'oiled by seid performions in the seici ihna 6. iin a; machine for coioring iiiins, a fiim so ice coiored provisie@ with peiiforations aiormeci ci: cieterminefi pieces i'ielreoi, seveiai mechanisms each comprising coloring icier corresponding; 'in etenminoci coioi, :i r'voting' 'iever cari-ying seid ivoiielc9 o.- cem i ecueing said iev/eis so io nieve sei; conci iiovveicis seioi 'ihn and maintain *i' same ci', o short ciscnce in seid nim, vriieieby che coior is iciiseiic 'fvoni iii@ Tfoiiei io the iiim "by cnoiiiaiiiy e. move id ioiiec i'oln che finas ci ivinqE Weens; en ciectro--ningneiic eisten :for connecting seid cani seid invii; i l on eieciiic circuit 'ici' con'ioiiing sein cincii., sind switches in seid ciicuit eoncoiiefi by. oeici peroi'nions in iiini.,

En macchine ci@ coioiingg fini, e iiiin 4 io be colored, seveifail mechanisms eeen conen Leoncec @rising e. coloring i'oiieif coriesponc'ing io n detecmineci. colorg a pivoting ieveif eeiiying scid coioling roller, n, com 'or nemici/'ing seid iever so tomove said. coior'ng relied. towards and from seid iiirn7 en actuating '.iiction :coller rigidly connectedr to said coloring i'oiL er, a contioi friction Teiler edejpiieci to cooperaie Wiiii said actuating riction. roller c. pivoting erm carrying seid; conioi iniction roiieig Ineens for coteizing seid g friction ioiier, e boss on scifi coin Toet-Ween 'the upper sind iowei portion oi' iie canin proiiie foi pressing e shoit time @he coioring coller against the seid iim whereby nos-itiveiy steiiing 'die cooing operation e* "unveiling in synciiionism with 'che mici? for conioiiing tile iniciinitteni; cotation of scifi cai-im l 8. in e machine for coioring i: :i iiini io be coiored, seveiei :mechanism arising e coioi'ing i'ciieifcorrespond 1 x oiceinineci color, pivoting level' ceiiyinf Seid rciiei', e earn foi.r schweine' said ievci so es io move said coiiei iov/erde mici fiom seid iiiins e. recambio disc7 pewi pivoieci on seid disc7 e ieizeiiet iviicei coopeivnting Wiih said pmi/i9 ineens foi operaiveiy coi ctingseid ciisc seid com, ineens for co ousij/ imitating mtciiei. w'iieel, yieioink ineens oi consi:eniiy`urging seid onwil engsgemeni vviii scifi Snicket vviieci ievei" adopted engage seid pm ,i ie'iciie vane-ei, en cieciio-megnei Een continin Eine' scifi ievci., a stczicnaiy cane coopei'ciing wich scifi` @envi for eiiowing the sonic io is engage from seid ratchet Wiiceie neces niineci poin of eecii ievointion oiz seid fiiscS en eieciic circuit for ei'ieigizng scifi eiee-l ero-magnew, switches i-oi cosinp; and open ing said eiicuit and ineens reveiiing in synciironism with the seii iiim ioi coniioiiing seid switches.

9. iin e machine for eoioring fiims? e iiim. io be coioreoi provied with perfoi'etions formed et determined pieces tiie-rcof5 severni mechanisms cach comprising n coioiing coller corresponding ic determined color, en oscilieing ievei eei'iying seid roiiei, a com for actuating seid iever whereby sei "Y roller is moved towards and from niie seid iiim, driving means, eiect'ocnsgneic ciutcii .ion ntermiibtentiy conneciw seid com ilo seid driving n A ci.n cuit for ceii .l 'E ieiions che ii n switches, f coioring iii :1go ice coince@ covioieol, wich periioim., posed. i 'ion indinei irc-Ws anni 'nein images o-.

' comprisingv a .coloring roller corresponding v to a determined color, an oscillating lever connecting said cam to'said driving switches bein carrying said-roller,v a cam for actuating said oscillating lever, driving means, an electro-magnetic clutch for intermittently clutch,

perforations of ,one of saidr rows whereby closin the corresponding switch. ,t

11. n a machine for coloring lms, a film to be colored provided with perforations disposed in longitudinalrows and between 'the images of 'the film, several mechanisms,

each lcomprising a coloring roller corre sponding'toA a determined color, an oscillating lever carrying .said roller, acani for ac tuating said lever whereby' said roller is moved towards and from the said film, driving means, an electro-magnetic clutch for intermittently connecting said' cam to said driving means, an electric circuitfor actuating vsald clutch, an entraining wheel for the film, switches carried by said wheel and -forming as many groups of each two seriesconnected switches as the circumferential length of the wheel 'comprises' the length of one image 'of the film, each of said groups of branched iny said circuit, pivoting levers isposed on either side of the means,

lm, switches oups of each two seriescon-v each pivotingv lever carrying a stud adapted to enter the wheel in' radial slots of the latter,

each piv-y oting lever being adapted to control onek switch and carrying a stud adapted .to enter -thel perforations of the film, coming in coincidence therewith, stationary cams disposed respectively on either side of said wheel and cooperating with. said'levers to fallow penetration of-said studs into said perforations during a determined part of'a revolutionof said wheel whereby closing the correspond.- ing` switches.

12. In a machine to be colored provided withl perforations disposed in longitudinal rows and between the imagesof the film, several mechanisms each comprising a coloring roller, electromagnetic means for moving said roller towards and from the film,'an electric circuit for actuating, said electro-magnetic means, an entraining wheel for said fihn,switches carried by said wheel and forming as'many' groups of each two series-connected switches asl the circumferential length'of the wheel comprises the lengthof one image-of the lm,

for coloring films, a film y each of said groups of"switches being,

branched in said circuit, pivoting levers on either side of said Wheel in radial 'slots' 0f -the latter, each pivoting lever being adapted to control one switch and carrying astudadapted toenter the perforations of one of said rows, stationary cams disposed on either wheel and cooperatin with said side of said levers to allow penetration of sai studs into said perforationsI during a determined part of a revolution of the wheel whereby closing the corresponding switches. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

GEORG S AUGUSTIN SALINS. 

